Nicho Hynes hits the ARIA Awards red carpet with a glamorous mystery woman: Here's who accompanied the footy star to Aussie music's night of nights

Footy star Nicho Hynes has turned heads by stepping out for the ARIA Awards in the company of a mystery woman who joined him on the red carpet.

The 27-year-old Sharks star cut a fine figure in a tuxedo after being styled by celebrity fashion guru Jamie Azzopardi for the ceremony at Sydney's Hordern Pavilion on Wednesday.

He wasn't just rocking up as a fan, though; Hynes was attending as a red carpet host for the event, just like the woman he posed with, author Marlee Silva.

The 26-year-old Indigenous writer, commentator and TV presenter is known for her work on First Nations women's issues and penned the best-selling book My Tidda, My Sister.

Based in Sydney, Silva has also worked as a sideline commentator on NRLW matches for Channel Nine after previously covering rugby league for the ABC, including the 2022 World Cup.

'How lucky am I to have been embraced with open arms by the @nrlonnine fam [family],' she posted on Instagram.

'Unbelieveable season and an incredible experience I'm so grateful for. I've learned so much and I can't wait to go again!'  

Just ahead of the ceremony she posted a shot on Instagram of her and Hynes together with their fellow ARIA Awards hosts, Matildas star Kyah Simon and TV presenter Matty Mills.

The gig at the awards comes during a drama-packed year for Hynes, who faced criticism over his form on the field and drama off it.

He was accused of not living up to his billing as a $1million-a-year superstar when the Sharks hit a rough patch in the middle of the season, and was dropped by NSW for game two of the State of Origin series after missing a crucial tackle when he came off the bench in the first match of the series.

Hynes battled back to lead Cronulla to the finals and was called into the Kangaroos squad for the Pacific Championships.

His mother Julie came to live with him in July just after her release from jail for supplying heroin - and just weeks after he bought a $2.17 million house in Sydney's south.

The property came complete with a self-contained home for Julie, who agreed to live there for at least two years as part of her sentence.

'She's going to stay with me forever now,' he told Judge David Wilson during his mother's sentencing hearing.

Outside court, he said he's keen to put his mother's troubled history behind him.

'I'm very happy to move past this now and bring my mum home and look after her, and put her into a community that looks after me and will look after her,' he said.

'I'm really looking forward to her being the generous and loving person I know she is.'

Hynes was listed as a bachelor in the Daily Telegraph's recent breakdown of Sharks stars' wives and girlfriends, and previously dated beauty entrepreneur Morgan Belier.